Cutoff applying means



M. RATLEY ETAL 2,254,394

CUTOFF APPLYING. MEANS Filed Sept; 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l I INV Nmks HAROLD M. RATLEY 0. LINE 9:

BY ALVIN WW ATTORNEYS H. M. RATLEY E'I'AL.

CUTOFF APPLYING MEANS Sept. 2,, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1940 INVENTORS HARQL'D M.RATLEY BY ALVIN c.|.m

WW, My

ATTORNEYS P 2, 1941- H. M. RATLEY ETAL I 2,254,394

CUTOFF APPLYING MEANS Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HAROLD NLRATLEY ATTORNEYS I 90 BY ALVIN C.L|ND

FIG 9 FIGJO.

Sept. 2, .1941. H. M. RATLEY ETAL CUTOFF. APPLYING MEANS Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m EEEmEEH Omv .. v INVENTORS HAROLD M.RATLEY 'ALVIN C.LIND W, W

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cU'rorF APPLYING MEANS Harold M. Ratley, Highland Park. and Alvin c. Lind, Detroit, Mich. assignors to ,National Automotive Fibres, 1110., Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application September 16, 1940, Serlal No. 357,067

Claims.

observed, of course, that the invention has a considerably wider field of utility, and in general is useful wherever it is desired toapply strip material adhesively or otherwise to a series of articles.

In the manufacture of upholstery trim panels as disclosed in' copending application of Harold M. Ratley, Serial No. 251,276, it is desired to adhesively secure a. strip of unvuicanized rubber to one face of panel boards. This strip material is applied continuously across the panel board, although the apparatus illustrated in the present application is suitable for applying strip material to only a portion of the panel board rather than completely across the panel board.

In the prior Ratley application referred to, the continuous strip material was applied to a series of panel boards without severance of the strip material. Since the panel. boards were spaced apart a short distance and in some cases this spacing of the panel boards cannot be avoided, there was a considerable wastage of the strip material between intermediate panels.

We have devised the present apparatus for use in applying strip material without wastage, and the apparatus which we have devised includes an automatic cut-oil for severing the strip material at the trailing edge of the panel board as the same advances past the applicator station, means for arresting the advance of the strip material until the next succeeding'panel board is in position for applicatiommeans forretaining the free end of the strip material out of the path of advance of the panel boards so as to avoid wiping the adhesive therefrom, means for moving the cut end of the strip material into engagement with the panel at a desired point, either at the leading edge thereof or otherwise, and means for thereafter feeding the strip material at the same rate of advance as the panel board and applying the same to the panel board. In the present disclosed embodiment "of the invention we have shown the moving parts of the apparatus as actuated by solenoids controlled-by trip switches adapted to ibe engaged by the panels as they advance, but it will be'appreciated that means could be employed, or the actuation of movable-parts could, if desired, be carriedout manually. We prefer, however, to provide the automatically actuated electrical equipment disclosed herein.

With the foregoing general remarksin mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus for applying strip material to a series of advancing articles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel apparatus for applying strip material to a' series of articles, severing the strip material between adjacent articles to avoid wastage thereof, timing the advance of the strip material so as to apply the same to designated portions of the articles, and retaining the free end of the continuous strip material out of the path of advance of the articles until one of the articles reaches the position for appl material.

In carryingout the foregoing objects, we have devised certain novel devices, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus of the type disclosed herein for carrying out the broad objects of the invention.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds, and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1' is a side view with parts in section of the complete apparatus for applying strip material;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, with parts in section, of the severing and applying mechanism, with one position thereof;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the parts shown in a second position;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram for the actuating means; and

Figures 5 to 10-are a series of diagrammatic views showing the relationship of the switches during a sequence 01' operation.

the parts shown in Reierring first to Figure 1, we have indicated aconveyor system comprising a plurality of belts l0 and II and'a conveyor chain I! for advancing a series'of panel plates indicated at It past the means for applying the strip material.

A supporting structure indicated generally at It is provided adjacent a table it over which the conveyor chain l2 moves. A roller I8 is carried by the; supporting structure It, which alsocarries a sprocket ll driving the chain H. We have instead of electrical a paratus other automatic in ca a m r drivin the procket llby i'cation of the strip means of suitable drive means, such as belts or chains l9.

' Strip material 20, which in the embodiment 11-. lustrated is in the form of narrow strips of unvulcanized rubber, is provided ina roll indicated generally at 2| and is supported on a bracket 22. The roll 2| is mounted for free rotation. and in order to prevent coasting of the roll after withdrawal of the strip material 20 has ceased, we provide a band 23 with frictional contact over a portion of the roll and having a weight 24 carried thereby. The band 23 is secured to a free end 01'' a member 25, the lower end of which carries an idle roller 28 adapted to engage strip materiel 2| as the same is withdrawn from the roll 2i.

Depending from the bracket 22 is a receptacle 21 for containing a supply of a suitable adhesive material. Carried by the receptacle I1 is a roller 28, the lower portion of which is adapted to be submersed within the fluid adhesive contained within the receptacle; the roller being mounted for free rotation so that as the strip material is drawn thereover the roller 28 rotates and applies the adhesive material-to the strip material 20.

Extending transversely of the conveyor system are angle irons llland 3i, suitably carried by the supporting structure ll or otherwise secured, as desired. .In Figure 1 we have indicated generally at 82 the severing mechanism, and generally at 33 the applicator mechanism. Details of these mechanisms are more apparent from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3, to which reference is now made. I

A bedplate N is provided over which the panels II are advanced in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. Panels ll are engaged by pins indicated at I. carried by the chain If. The pins it provide for positive advance of the panels, ever! though resisted by other mechanism later to be described. The bedplate 34 has an opening 31 therein in which is mounted a roller 8|. Beneath the bedplate It is a bracket it having an opening ll therlein for slidably receiving and guiding a knife I The knife ll is actuated by means of a solenoid '42 having a vertically. movable: plunger 43 to which is connected a lever, 44 ,iournalled as indicated at 45 to a bifurcated arm 48 carried by a supportingflxture 41. The fixture 41 is. mounted on the angle iron 3| and is adjustable therealong to position the knife in registry with the strip material, as will later appear.

fl is correspondingly moved upwardly across the path of advance of successive panels.

The applicator mechanism is mounted above cameos cross piece 1! extending between the furcatlons of the bifurcated element ll so as to engage the compression spring Ill. As a result of this, when the solenoid it is energized, the bell crank It is swung in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, with a substantially constant force due to the compression of the spring, although the opposite end of the bell crank I4 may be engaged in different positions due to variations. in thickness of the material being operated on.

Rigidly secured to one of the plates 82 is an 7 arm CI, and a tension spring indicated at N connects the outer end of the arm '3 and the outer end of the bell crank it, biasing the same in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2.

v ed thereon and urged downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 by means of a compression spring II. This assembly includes a detachableplatell. T'hepadllismovableupwardlyfrom the position shown in Figure 2 to the position I illustrated in Figure 3 when the knife fl is moved the table as and is likewise adjustable as a unit longitudinally of the angle iron 3|, this adjustment being permitted by reason of the provision of the clamping or looking bolt II. The applicator structure includes a main bracket ii to which are secured a pair of supporting plates '2.

Plates 2 have journalled between them a guide per end of the bell crank It being connected realliently by means of a link It to the plunger ll of .asolenoid l8.

. The link It includes a bifurcated member sa having a compression spring ll suitably secured upwardly. A pin ll is carried by the lower end of the pad ll.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described will now be apparent. A panel "a has Just passed the apparatus and has had applied thereto a strip Illa of rubber. The leading edge of a following panel llb has just passed beneath the pin II and strip material 20 isnow being applied thereto. The pin roller it penetrates the strip material 2| and engages into the upper surface of the panel board lib. The pin roller it is mounted for free rotation and as the panel lib is positively advanced by reason of its engagement with the pins ll on the chain ll, the pin roller II is positively rotated and feeds the strip material 20 forwardly at the same rate of advance as panel lib. At the same time pressure of the pin roller ll presses the strip material into firm contact with the upper surface of the panel board and applies the same thereto. when the trailing or following edge of the panel board lib reaches the pin roller OI, the solenoid 88 is deenergized and the bell cr'a'nk I4 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of the spring I. This raises the pin roller It out of contact with the panel board.

iWhen the trailing or following edge of the tirm panel llb reaches the knife ll, the solenoid 42 is energized, bringingthe knife upwardly into engagement with the pad 08. This condition is illustrated in Figure 3, in which time itwill be notedthat the knife ll has moved upwardly in shearing engagement with the inner surface of the plate ll and'has Pushed the pad ll upwardly against the compression spring II. This has the effect of severing the strip material at the trailing edge of the panel board and at the same time the free end of the continuous strip material is impaled upon the pin H. The spring if is above the strip material 20 due to the preroller ll and-associated parts.

/ Asa result of this,-,the free end of the strip material is held upwardly out of the path. of advance of the trim panels. This is a very imtherein, and a second link element ti having a v7 portant feature since it prevents the next adwhen an advan ce panel strikes the arm 82 of frees the end of the strip material from the pin ll and the pin roller 88 pierces or penetrates the strip material and engages the next succeeding panel. Continued advance of the panel posi- .tively withdraws strip material from the roll 2| and applies the same to the uppersurface there of, as will be obvious. It will be apparent that the strip material need not be applied from the leading edge rearwardly, but instead may be applied from any desired point intermediate the leading and trailing edges. With the present 11- lustrated embodiment, the cutoff necessarily takes place only at the trailing edge. but it will be appreciated that, if desired, the cut-off operating on the upper surface of the trim panel could be provided so that the strip material could be positioned over any desired portion of the trim panel.

In order that the operation of the means for applying the strip material may be entirely automatic, we provide a plurality of switches along the table 84, in position to be engaged by the advancing trimpanels. These switches are connected to the solenoids 42 and 88 by means of the circuit illustrated in Figure 4, which will now be described. I

The solenoid 42 is connected to power line 88 by means of connections 8| and 82 controlled by the normallyopen relay 88. The solenoid 88 is connected to the line 88 by connections 84 and 88 controlled by the normally closed relay 88. A

.transformer 81 is connected across the line 88 i and is shown as provided with a ground connection 88. The relays 88 and 88 are adapted to be actuated from this low voltage transformer, and a circuit from the transformer through the normally closed relay 88 is provided which includes switches 88 and 88 which are in parallel, and a.-

second circuit through the normally open relay 88 which includes the switch 8| is provided.

9 so that the pins-carried thereby penetrate the the switch 88, as shown in- Figure 5, no changes occur for the reason that the switch 88, which is in parallel with the switch 88, remains closed. Further advance of trim panel l8 opens the switch 8|, as shown in Figure 6. Opening of the switch 8| breaks the circuitthrough the normally open relay 88, permitting the relay to open,

thus breaking'the circuit to solenoid 42 which, in turn, permits the knife 4| to drop under the influence of gravity, or a spring, if desired.

Further advance of a panel l8 eventually opens the switch 88, as indicated in Figure 7. When Referring now particularly to Figures 5 to 10, 8

the switch 88 is normally closed but includes an arm 82 projecting upwardly into the path of trim panels I8. The switch 88 is also normally closed but includes an upwardly projecting arm 88 which also projects into the path of the trim panels l3. Intermediate the switches-'88 and 88 is provided a switch 8| which is also normally.

closed and which has an extending arm 84. It

will be obvious that arm84 is of a conformation so as to provide a carry-over of substantial length. As a matter of fact, an advancing trim panel, such as 8, opens the switch 8| and main tains the switch open until just immediately before closure of the third switch 88.

In Figures 5 to 10 we have superimposed a broken line K. which indicates the location of the knife relative to the switches. For simplicity, the switches have not been included in the detail figures previously described. I

The switches 88, 88 and 8| are all normally closed. and when they are all closed, normally open relay 88 is closed, and normally closed relay 88 is open. when normally open relay 88 is closed, the solenoid 42 is energized and the knife 4| is in upper position. When normally closed relay 88 is open, solenoid 88 is deenergized and the pin roller 81 is in upper position.

the switch 88 is opened, the circuit through the normally closed relay 88 is broken, the parallel round connection through the switch 88 having previously been open. This results in closure of the relay 88 with the result that the solenoid 88 is energized, thus moving the pin roller downwardly. It will be observed from Figure 7 that this occurs when the leading edge ofthe panel I8 is substantially in line with the knife edge, or

in other words is substantially" in line'with the free end of the continuous" strip material 28.

' Movement of-thepin roller 88 downwardly, which is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the leaf spring 8|,-moves the adhesive coated strip material 28 downwardly into contact with the .upper surface of the trim panel. The pin roller is urged downwardly with sufllcient force strip material and engage the upper surfaceof the trim panels. At this time all of the switches 88, 88 and 8| are open and remain open for so "long as the trim panel overlies all of the switches. Eventually, as shown in Figure 8, the trailing edge of the trim panel passes over the actuating arm 82 of the switch 88, permitting the same to close. Closure of the switch 88 again completes the circuit through the normally closed relay 88,

thus opening the relay and breaking the circuit to the solenoid 58. When the circuit to the solenoid 58 is broken, the bell crank 84'. moves .in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, thus lifting the pin wheel 88 and the leaf spring 81 out of engagement with the strip material and panel board.

This, as will be observed in Figure 8, occurs when the trailing edge of the panel I8 is approaching, but has not yet reached the plane of I the knife edge indicated by the broken line K.

Further movement of the trim panel l8, as indicated in Figure 9, eventually causes the panel to drop off the carry-over arm 84 of the switch 8|,

panel I3, as indicated-in Figure 10, the panel board drops off the arm 88 of the switch 88, permitting the same to close. This doesnot effect by reason of the fact that it is adhesively united I to a substantial area thereof. On the other hand,

the use of the pin roller is very desirable to start same is first moved into contactwith the panel board. This is partly because-the strip material ass-secs series of continuously advancing articles, oomprising: a conveyor forri-advancing said "articles III has a fluid adhesive applied toits under surface and there would be a tendency for. the strip material to slip on the upper surface'ot the panel board unless means were'provided oipositively feeding the same in sequencetherewith,

The particular arrangement of switchesshown in Figures to provides for applying strip material continuously from the leading edge to the trailing edge of ,the panel. It will'beposslble, of course, as is readily apparent,to'cause the strip material to be applied tothe:panel board, commencing at any point desiredrearwardly oi the leading edge. Thus, forexample, if desired, the strip material maybe retained in elevated posi tion while the first half, 'or any predetermined portion or the 'panel board passes the applicator,

after which the pin roller maybe moved-downwardly, thus commencing theapplicationofrstiip material from that point rearwardlyon'the'panel board. 7 I

The apparatus illustrated herein is well adapted for the rapidproduction oftrim panels and results in the application of strip material to the panel'boards with absolute uniformityand without any'wastage of the strip material. It is only necessary for the operator toposition the panel boards in series on the moving conveyor andthe apparatus herein disclosed automatically applies strip materialto the panel-boards as they trav-; erse the "mechanism.

a It will, of course, be apparent that any number of strips may simultaneously be applied'to the panel board, it being necessary onlyto duplicate 1 so much '01 the apparatus illustrated herein as is necessary. It will be apparent, of course, that a single solenoid may actuate any desired number of the pin wheels, and'likewise a single solenoid may actuate any number of cutter knives.

While we have illustrated a particular set-up in which the pin roller 68 is raised a substantial interval before the knife 4| is actuated, it wilialso be apparent that the pin'wheeL'if desired, may be'rnoved upwardly simultaneously with upward motion of the knife-4|. Where this is done,-it

may be that the strip material 20 will remain impaled on the pins of. the roller so that this member will retain the. strip material in elevated position with the assistance of the pin 'II carried by the pad 0. i Y

-While we have illustrated and described but a single embodiment ,of the apparatus for applying strip material to a series of articles, it will solely to, enable those skilled in the art toprac- 'tice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. .Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing saidarticles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor 1 for continuous strip material, a'knife movable across the path of said articles to 'sever strip material between adjacent articles, a pin for impaling the free end of said stripmaterial after severance of a length thereof, said pin being located to position the said free end out o! the path in'spacedrelation, a support adjacent said conveyor forcontinuousstripymaterial, a knife movable across the path oi saidarticles' to sever strip material between adjacent articles, a pin for 1111- paling the free; end of said strip, material after severance ora length thereof said pin "being located to position the said free end out of the pathof advance'of said articles, andmeans for moving. said free endiinto engagementwitha following article when said'article arrives in position' to receive said strip Imaterial said last means comprisinga roller adapted to press said strip material against said article so as to with- .draw strip material from said support. I

3. Apparatus forapplyingstrip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comfprising: a conveyor for advancingsaid articles in spaced relation, a supportadjacent said conveyor for continuous strip material; a a knife movable acros's'the 'path' or: said articles to sever strip material between adjacent articles, a pin for impaling thefree end of said strip material after severance .of a length thereof, said pin being located to position the said free end out oi' tbe r path of advance of said articles, and means for moving said free end into engagement with a following article when said article arrives in to penetratesaid strip material and'engage said position to receive said stripmaterial, said last 'means comprising a roller having pins adapted article was to withdraw strip material from said support.

4. Apparatus IOI'IDDIYIDI'IIZHQ material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adJacent'said conveyor for continuous'strip materiaL solenoid-operated severing means, a retainer pin,-and a solenoid operated applicator, a switch operable by saidarticles to actuate said'severing means to sever an applied length-o1 strip material and t0 .impale the free end of said strip material on said retainer pin, and asecond switch operableby said articles to actuate said applicator to withdraw the said free end of saidstripmaterial from saidpin andto'move said stripinto engagement with the following article. v

5. Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprisingza conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation,'a support adjacent said conveyor for continuousv strip material, a knife'reciprocable across the path of advance of's'aid articles for severing said -stripmaterial between succeeding articles, movable applicator means for pressing, said strip material against said articles, m'eans automaticallyoperated by the advance ofsaid articles for actuating said knife between adjacent, articles, and for moving said applicator means into inoperative position during the interval whenno article is in position for application. 1 I I .6. In a' device of theclass described a reciprocable knife, a pad cooperating withs'aid knife having an impaling pin thereon, movable applicator means adiacentsaid pad,-'ompr1sing a rollerand an element movable ,generally in the same direction assaid knife, saidknii'e adapted to'sever a length-from eontinuousstrip material and impale the'iree end of said strip mate- ,rial on said pin, andtsaid element adapted to 1 withdraw said impaled/end or said strip mate- 'rial from said pim/iaid roller being elective then to press said strip material into engagement with an article advanced therepast.

'7. Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor for continuous strip material, severing means for severing an applied length of said strip material, applicator means including. an element movable between operative and inoperative position, said applicator means being adapted to retain the free end of said strip material out of the path of advance of said articles when no article is in position for application, said element being effective when moved to operative position to shift the free end of said strip material into contact with an'article as it advances into position for application, automatic means for moving said element to inoperative position, for actuating said severing means, and for moving said element to operative position in the order stated, said automatic means including solenoids for actuating said severing means and said element, and switches controlling said solenoids located in position to be engaged by said articles.

8. Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said con-.

veyor for continuous strip material, means for feeding and applying said strip material to an article as it advances, means for severing the applied length of said strip material, and means for arresting the advance of said strip material after severance of said applied length until the following article is in position for application,

' said means for feeding and applying said strip material comprising a roller movable from inoperative position into engagement with an article to engage strip material therewith and adapted to press said strip material against an article as it continues to advance. v

9. In apparatus of the class described, means for feeding strip material from a continuous supply and applying the same to an advancin article comprising apin roller, and means 'for urging said roller in a direction to press said strip material to said article, said roller being mounted for free rotation and adapted to penetrate said strip material and to engage said advancing article.

10. Apparatus for applyin strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor for supporting a supply of continuous strip material, a pressure roll for pressing said strip mateaway from said article, and means operable thereafter for severing said strip material and positioning and retaining the free end of said strip out of the'path of travel of said articles,

said last means comprising an impaling pin and advances, a leaf spring extending forwardly from said pressure roll, a retainer pin above said conveyor,.a knife movable across the path of advance of said articles and adapted to sever said strip material and to impale the severed end thereof on said pin, means for moving said roll and leaf spring between operative and inoperative positions, said leaf spring upon movement from inoperative to operative position adapted to withdraw the severed v.end of said strip material from. said pin and to move it into engagement with an advancing article.

13. Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor for supporting a supply of continuous strip material, applying means including a pressure roll movable towards and away from articles on said conveyor and adapted to move the free end of said strip material into engagement with an advancing article.

14. Apparatus for applying strip material to a series of continuously advancing articles, comprising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor for supporting a supply of continuous strip material, applying means including a pressure roll movable towards and away from articles on said conveyor and adapted to move thefree end of said strip material into engagement with an advancing article, and severing means including a knife operable upon movement of said applying means away from an article to sever the applied length thereof.

veyor for supporting a supply of continuous strip rial into engagement with an article as it admaterial, applying means including a pressure roll movable towards and away from articles on said conveyor and adapted to move the free end of said strip material into engagement with an advancing article, and severing means includinga knife operable upon movement of said apply.- ing means away from an article to sever the applied length thereof, said severing means also prising: a conveyor for advancing said articles in spaced relation, a support adjacent said conveyor for supporting a supply of continuous strip material, a pressure roll for pressing said strip material into engagement with an article as it advances, means for moving said pressure roll including a pin spaced above the path of advance of said articles, said knife cooperating therewith to cause said pin to impale the free end of said strip material to hold the same above the path of advance of said articles.

HAROLD M. RATLEY. ALVIN C. LIND. 

